ASTRO-E2 (Suzaku)
Studies of two supernova remnants using the Japan-U.S. Suzaku observatory have revealed never-before-seen embers of the high-temperature fireballs that immediately followed the explosions. Even after thousands of years, gas within these stellar wrecks retain the imprint of temperatures 10,000 times hotter than the sun's surface. Source: NASA -http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/astro-e2/news/fossil-fireballs.html
Description
Suzaku (Astro-E2) is a Japanese (ISAS/JAXA) astronomy satellite. Suzaku is Japan's fifth X-ray astronomy satellite and the third for which the US has provided a significant part of the scientifc payload. It will monitor the universe in the 0.3-700 keV X-ray band, in conjunction with the Chandra (NASA) and XMM-Newton (ESA) satellites. Suzaku is designed to obtain precise measurements of high-energy processes in stars, supernova remnants, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the environments around neutron stars and black holes. Suzaku is equipped with X-ray telescopes and two instruments: The XIS (X-ray Imaging Spectrometer) and the HXD (Hard X-ray Detector). Suzaku also carries a third instrument, the XRS (X-ray Spectrometer), but the XRS lost all its cryogen before routine scientific observations could begin. Suzaku is the recovery mission for ASTRO-E, which did not achieve orbit during launch in February 2000. The 1,600 kg, 500 W, octagonal (2 m x 5 m), triaxially-stabilized spacecraft carries six instruments, covering the sky between 60 degrees and 120 degrees away from the Sun. The mission has significant participation from NASA and MIT. (NASA - National Space Science Data Center) |
Links
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/astro-e2/main/#.U1GCvF6WODo Facts Spectrum Studied: X-ray Launch Date: 2005-07-10 Status: Still Operational Orbital Location: Earth Orbit (550 km) Launch Vehicle: M-5 Launch Site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan Mass: 1,600 kg Funding Agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (United States) |